US20050241770A1 - Substrate cleaning apparatus and method - Google Patents
Substrate cleaning apparatus and method Download PDFInfo
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- US20050241770A1 US20050241770A1 US11/115,358 US11535805A US2005241770A1 US 20050241770 A1 US20050241770 A1 US 20050241770A1 US 11535805 A US11535805 A US 11535805A US 2005241770 A1 US2005241770 A1 US 2005241770A1
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/67—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
- H01L21/67005—Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
- H01L21/67011—Apparatus for manufacture or treatment
- H01L21/67017—Apparatus for fluid treatment
- H01L21/67063—Apparatus for fluid treatment for etching
- H01L21/67069—Apparatus for fluid treatment for etching for drying etching
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J37/00—Discharge tubes with provision for introducing objects or material to be exposed to the discharge, e.g. for the purpose of examination or processing thereof
- H01J37/32—Gas-filled discharge tubes
- H01J37/32009—Arrangements for generation of plasma specially adapted for examination or treatment of objects, e.g. plasma sources
- H01J37/32082—Radio frequency generated discharge
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J37/00—Discharge tubes with provision for introducing objects or material to be exposed to the discharge, e.g. for the purpose of examination or processing thereof
- H01J37/32—Gas-filled discharge tubes
- H01J37/32431—Constructional details of the reactor
- H01J37/3266—Magnetic control means
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J37/00—Discharge tubes with provision for introducing objects or material to be exposed to the discharge, e.g. for the purpose of examination or processing thereof
- H01J37/32—Gas-filled discharge tubes
- H01J37/32431—Constructional details of the reactor
- H01J37/32798—Further details of plasma apparatus not provided for in groups H01J37/3244 - H01J37/32788; special provisions for cleaning or maintenance of the apparatus
- H01J37/32816—Pressure
- H01J37/32834—Exhausting
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a substrate cleaning apparatus and method; and, more particularly, to a substrate cleaning apparatus and method for removing foreign materials attached to a bottom surface of a substrate subject to a plasma processing.
- plasma processing such as etching or sputtering and CVD (chemical vapor deposition)
- wafer semiconductor wafer
- a plasma processing apparatus 80 for performing an etching process includes a cylindrical vessel 81 for containing a wafer; a susceptor 82 disposed in the cylindrical vessel 81 , the susceptor 82 serving as a mounting table on which the wafer is mounted; and pusher pins 83 disposed to penetrate through the susceptor 82 toward a surface thereof on which the wafer is mounted (hereinafter, referred to as “mounting surface”)
- the susceptor 82 has in the mounting surface an electrostatic chuck 85 in which an electrode connected to a DC power supply 84 is embedded, and a lower electrode 87 connected to a high frequency power supply 86 is provided in the susceptor 82 (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 5-226291, FIG. 1 ).
- a high frequency power is applied to the lower electrode 87 to generate a high frequency electric field between a top surface in the cylindrical vessel 81 and the susceptor 82 , so that a processing gas introduced into the cylindrical vessel 81 is dissociated to generate a plasma.
- the generated plasma is converged to a top surface of the wafer by a focus ring (not shown) disposed to surround the periphery of the wafer to etch an oxide film and the like formed on the top surface of the wafer.
- the wafer subject to the etching process is lifted from the mounting surface by the pusher pins 83 , and is unloaded out of the cylindrical vessel 81 by a transfer mechanism such as a scalar arm (not shown) moved therein.
- a transfer mechanism such as a scalar arm (not shown) moved therein.
- the cleaning fluid is contaminated. Therefore, in the wet cleaning, the top surface of the wafer tends to be contaminated by, e.g., particles contained in the contaminated cleaning fluid. Further, when the wafer that has been subject to the etching process is loaded in a chamber for a next process, the particles remaining on the wafer may contaminate the inside of the chamber.
- the top surface of the wafer suffers damages owing to an excessive plasma processing due to the plasma generated, i.e., the top surface of the wafer is over-etched due to an excessive etching performed thereon.
- an object of the present invention to provide a substrate cleaning apparatus and method capable of sufficiently removing foreign materials attached to a bottom surface of a substrate without damaging the substrate.
- a substrate cleaning apparatus including: a chamber for accommodating a substrate; a mounting table, disposed in the chamber, for mounting thereon the substrate; an electrode disposed in the mounting table, the substrate being attracted and held on the mounting table as a voltage is applied to the electrode; an exhaust unit for exhausting the inside of the chamber; a separating unit for separating the mounting table and the substrate to form a space therebetween; and a gas supply unit for supplying a gas into the space, wherein while the space is formed, a voltage is applied to the electrode, the gas supply unit supplies a gas into the space and the exhaust unit exhausts the inside of the chamber.
- the substrate cleaning apparatus since a voltage is applied to the electrode disposed in the mounting table while the space is formed between the mounting table and the substrate, an electrostatic field is formed in the space, so that an electrostatic stress is applied on the bottom surface of the substrate. Therefore, foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate are detached therefrom. Further, since a gas is supplied into the space and the chamber is evacuated while the space is formed, a gas flow is formed in the space and the foreign materials are removed from the space to be discharged out of the chamber by the gas flow. Accordingly, the substrate cleaning apparatus can sufficiently remove the foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate without damaging the substrate.
- the substrate cleaning apparatus further includes a gas introduction unit for introducing a gas into the chamber while the chamber is depressurized and the space is formed.
- a gas introduction unit for introducing a gas into the chamber while the chamber is depressurized and the space is formed.
- the voltage application to the electrode is discontinuously performed. Since the voltage is discontinuously applied to the electrode plate, the voltage application is repeatedly performed, so that an electrostatic stress is applied on the bottom surface of the substrate repeatedly. Accordingly, the foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate can be more efficiently removed therefrom.
- voltages of different polarities are alternately applied to the electrode. Since voltages of different polarities are alternately applied to the electrode plate, it is possible to prevent the substrate from being charged. If the substrate is charged, the electrostatic stress being applied on the bottom surface of the substrate by the voltage application becomes reduced. Accordingly, by preventing the substrate from being charged, it is possible to suppress the deterioration in removal efficiency of the foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate.
- an absolute value of the voltages is 500 V or greater. Since the voltage of 500 V or greater is applied to the electrode while the space is formed, it is possible to increase the electrostatic stress being applied on the bottom surface of the substrate, ensuring the detachment of the foreign materials.
- the magnitude of the voltages is 2 kV or greater. Since the magnitude of the voltage is 2 kV or greater, it is possible to further increase the electrostatic stress.
- the exhaust unit maintains the pressure in the chamber at 133 Pa or greater while the space is formed. Since the exhaust unit maintains the pressure in the chamber at 133 Pa or greater, a viscous flow having a great gas viscosity can be generated in the space. The foreign materials detached from the bottom surface of the substrate are captured by the viscous flow to be discharged together with the gas in the chamber to the outside thereof. Accordingly, the foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate can be surely removed therefrom.
- the exhaust unit maintains the pressure in the chamber in a range of 1.33 ⁇ 10 3 ⁇ 1.33 ⁇ 10 4 Pa while the space is formed. Accordingly, the viscous flow can be surely generated in the space.
- a substrate cleaning apparatus including: a chamber for accommodating a substrate; a mounting table, disposed in the chamber, for mounting thereon the substrate; an exhaust unit for exhausting the inside of the chamber; a separating unit for separating the mounting table and the substrate to form a space therebetween, the separating unit contacting with the substrate to apply a voltage thereto; a gas supply unit for supplying a gas into the space; and a gas introduction unit for introducing a gas into the chamber, wherein while the space is formed, a voltage is applied to the substrate, the gas supply unit supplies a gas into the space and the exhaust unit exhausts the inside of the chamber; and the gas introduction unit introduces a gas into the chamber while the chamber is depressurized and the space is formed.
- the substrate cleaning apparatus since a voltage is applied via the separating unit to the substrate while the space is formed between the mounting table and the substrate, an electrostatic field is formed in the space, so that an electrostatic stress is applied on the bottom surface of the substrate. Therefore, foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate are detached therefrom. Further, since the gas introduction unit introduces a gas into the chamber while the space is formed and the inside of the chamber is depressurized, a traveling shock wave is generated in the chamber and foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate are detached into the space by the shock wave.
- the substrate cleaning apparatus can sufficiently remove the foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate without damaging the substrate.
- a substrate cleaning method for removing foreign materials attached to a bottom surface of a substrate including the steps of: accommodating the substrate in a chamber; mounting the substrate on a mounting table disposed in the chamber; separating the mounting table and the substrate to form a space therebetween; applying a voltage to an electrode disposed in the mounting table while the space is formed; supplying a gas into the space while the space is formed; and exhausting the inside of the chamber while the space is formed.
- the substrate cleaning method since a voltage is applied to the electrode plate disposed in the mounting table while the space is formed between the mounting table and the substrate, an electrostatic field is formed in the space, so that an electrostatic stress is applied on the bottom surface of the substrate. Therefore, foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate are detached therefrom. Further, since a gas is supplied into the space and the chamber is evacuated while the space is formed, a gas flow is formed in the space and the foreign materials are removed from the space to be discharged out of the chamber by the gas flow. Accordingly, the foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate can be sufficiently removed without damaging the substrate.
- the substrate cleaning method further including the step of: introducing a gas into the chamber while the chamber is depressurized and the space is formed.
- a gas is introduced into the chamber while the space is formed and the chamber is depressurized, a traveling shock wave is generated in the chamber and foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate are detached into the space by the shock wave. Accordingly, the foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate can be efficiently removed therefrom without damaging the substrate.
- the voltage is discontinuously applied to the electrode. Since the voltage is discontinuously applied to the electrode plate, the voltage application is repeatedly performed, so that an electrostatic stress is applied on the bottom surface of the substrate repeatedly. Accordingly, the foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate can be more efficiently removed therefrom.
- voltages of different polarities are alternately applied to the electrode. Since voltages of different polarities are alternately applied to the electrode plate, it is possible to prevent the substrate from being charged. If the substrate is charged, the electrostatic stress being applied on the bottom surface of the substrate by the voltage application will be reduced. Accordingly, by preventing the substrate from being charged, it is possible to suppress the deterioration in removal efficiency of the foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate.
- a substrate cleaning method for removing foreign materials attached to a bottom surface of a substrate including the steps of: accommodating the substrate in a chamber; mounting the substrate on a mounting table disposed in the chamber; separating the mounting table and the substrate to form a space therebetween; applying a voltage to the substrate while the space is formed; supplying a gas into the space while the space is formed; exhausting the inside of the chamber while the space is formed; and introducing a gas into the chamber while the chamber is depressurized and the space is formed.
- the substrate cleaning method since a voltage is applied via the separating unit to the substrate while the space is formed between the mounting table and the substrate, an electrostatic field is formed in the space, so that an electrostatic stress is applied on the bottom surface of the substrate. Therefore, foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate are detached therefrom. Further, since a gas is introduced into the chamber while the space is formed and the inside of the chamber is depressurized, a traveling shock wave is generated in the chamber and foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate are detached into the space by the shock wave. Further, since a gas is supplied into the space and the chamber is evacuated while the space is formed, a gas flow is formed in the space and the foreign materials are removed from the space to be discharged out of the chamber by the gas flow. Accordingly, the foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate can be sufficiently removed without damaging the substrate.
- FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view schematically showing configurations of a plasma processing apparatus as a substrate cleaning apparatus in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 depicts an operational sequence of the substrate cleaning apparatus performed in the plasma processing apparatus in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 sets forth a schematic view showing configurations of pusher pins in a plasma processing apparatus as a substrate cleaning apparatus in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 4 presents a cross sectional view schematically showing configurations of a substrate cleaning apparatus in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 5 describes a schematic view showing configurations of a substrate processing system including the substrate cleaning apparatus in FIG. 4 ;
- FIG. 6A provides a diagram schematically showing a status of a space S in a case where voltages of +2 kV and ⁇ 2 kV are alternately applied to an electrode plate repeatedly while a valve V 1 is opened;
- FIG. 6B represents a diagram schematically showing the status of the space S after a few seconds have elapsed from the time corresponding to the status shown in FIG. 6A ;
- FIG. 6C sets forth a diagram schematically showing the status of the space S after a few seconds have elapsed from the time corresponding to the status shown in FIG. 6B ;
- FIG. 7 depicts a graph showing observation results of removed particles in an experimental example of the present invention.
- FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a configuration of a conventional plasma processing apparatus for performing an etching process on a wafer W.
- FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view schematically showing configurations of the plasma processing apparatus as the substrate cleaning apparatus in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- the plasma processing apparatus 1 constructed as an etching processing apparatus for performing an etching process on a wafer W includes a cylindrical chamber (accommodating chamber) 10 made of a metal, e.g., aluminum or stainless steel, and there is provided in the chamber 10 a columnar susceptor (mounting table) 11 as a stage on which the wafer W is mounted.
- an exhaust passageway 12 Formed between a sidewall of the chamber 10 and the susceptor 11 is an exhaust passageway 12 serving as a flow passage through which a gas above the susceptor 11 is discharged out of the chamber 10 .
- An annular baffle plate 13 is provided in the exhaust passageway 12 and a downstream space of the baffle plate 13 in the exhaust passageway 12 is made to communicate with an automatic pressure control valve (hereinafter, referred to as “APC”) 14 which is a variable butterfly valve.
- the APC 14 is connected to a turbo molecular pump (hereinafter, referred to as “TMP”) 15 which is an exhaust pump for vacuum suction, and is connected via the TMP 15 to a dry pump 16 (hereinafter, referred to as “DP”) which is an exhaust pump.
- TMP turbo molecular pump
- DP dry pump
- An exhaust line including the APC 14 , the TMP 15 and the DP 16 is referred to as a “main exhaust line” hereinafter.
- the main exhaust line not only controls a pressure in the chamber 10 by using the APC 14 but also depressurizes the inside of the chamber 10 up to an approximately vacuum state by using the TMP 15 and the DP 16 .
- the rough suction line includes an exhaust pipe having a diameter of, e.g., 25 mm which allows the downstream space of the baffle plate 13 to communicate with the DP 16 , and a valve V 2 disposed in the exhaust pipe 17 .
- the valve V 2 can block the communication between the downstream space of the baffle plate 13 and the DP 16 .
- a gas in the chamber 10 is discharged through the rough suction line by using DP 16 .
- a high frequency power supply 18 for generating a plasma is electrically connected to the susceptor 11 via a matching unit 19 .
- the high frequency power supply 18 applies a predetermined high frequency power of, e.g., 13.56 MHz to the susceptor 11 .
- the susceptor 11 serves as a lower electrode.
- a disc-shaped electrode plate 20 Disposed at an upper portion in the susceptor 11 is a disc-shaped electrode plate 20 made of a conductive film for attracting and holding the wafer W by using an electrostatic adsorptive force.
- a DC power supply 22 is electrically connected to the electrode plate 20 .
- the wafer W is attracted and held on the top surface of the susceptor 11 by a Coulomb force or a Johnsen-Rahbek force generated by a DC voltage applied to the electrode plate 20 from the DC power supply 22 . Further, an annular focus ring 24 made of, e.g., silicon (Si) converges a plasma generated above the susceptor 11 toward the wafer W.
- a Coulomb force or a Johnsen-Rahbek force generated by a DC voltage applied to the electrode plate 20 from the DC power supply 22 .
- an annular focus ring 24 made of, e.g., silicon (Si) converges a plasma generated above the susceptor 11 toward the wafer W.
- a circumferentially extending annular coolant passageway 25 is provided in the susceptor 11 .
- the coolant passageway 25 is (:“circularly” removed) supplied with a coolant, e.g., cooling water, of a predetermined temperature from a chiller unit (not shown) via a conduit 26 , which is to be circulated therethrough, so that the processing temperature of the wafer W on the susceptor 11 is controlled by the temperature of the coolant.
- a coolant e.g., cooling water
- a plurality of thermally conductive gas supply openings (gas supply unit) 27 is opened in a portion of the top surface of the susceptor 11 on which the wafer W is attracted to be held.
- the thermally conductive gas supply openings 27 communicate via a thermally conductive gas supply line 28 provided in the susceptor 11 with a thermally conductive gas feeding pipe 29 having a valve V 3 , and a thermally conductive gas, e.g., an He gas, from a thermally conductive gas supply unit (not shown) connected to the thermally conductive gas feeding pipe 29 is supplied to a gap between the top surface of the susceptor 11 and the bottom surface of the wafer W.
- the valve V 3 can block the communication between the thermally conductive gas supply openings 27 and the thermally conductive gas supply unit.
- a plurality of pusher pins (separating unit) 30 as lifting pins are disposed to selectively protrude from the top surface of the susceptor 11 .
- the pusher pins 30 are vertically moved by converting a rotation of a motor (not shown) into a linear movement through, e.g., a ball screw. While the wafer is adsorptively held on the top surface of the susceptor 11 , the pusher pins 30 are lowered to be accommodated in the susceptor 11 .
- the pusher pins 30 protrude from the top surface of the susceptor 11 to lift and separate the wafer W from the susceptor 11 . At this time, there is formed a space between the top surface of the susceptor 11 and the bottom surface of the wafer W.
- a gate valve 32 for opening and closing a loading/unloading port 31 for the wafer W.
- a shower head 33 as an upper electrode having a ground potential.
- the shower head 33 at the ceiling portion includes an electrode plate 35 as a bottom surface having a plurality of gas flow openings 34 and an electrode support 36 for detachably supporting the electrode plate 35 . Further, a buffer room 37 is formed inside the electrode support 36 , and a processing gas inlet line 38 from a processing gas supply unit (not shown) is connected to the buffer room 37 . A valve V 1 is provided in the processing gas inlet line 38 . The valve V 1 can block the communication between the buffer room 37 and the processing gas supply unit. In addition, disposed around the chamber 10 are magnets 39 which are annularly or concentrically extended.
- the chamber 10 of the plasma processing apparatus 1 there are formed a horizontal magnetic field directed to one direction by the magnets 39 and a vertical RF electric field by a high frequency voltage applied between the susceptor 11 and the shower head 33 , so that a magnetron discharge occurs through the processing gas in the chamber 10 , generating a high-density plasma from the processing gas in the vicinity of the top surface of the susceptor 11 .
- a wafer W to be processed is loaded in the chamber 10 and mounted on the susceptor 11 .
- a processing gas e.g., a gaseous mixture of a C 4 F 8 gas, an O 2 gas and an Ar gas at a predetermined flow rate ratio
- a processing gas e.g., a gaseous mixture of a C 4 F 8 gas, an O 2 gas and an Ar gas at a predetermined flow rate ratio
- a processing gas e.g., a gaseous mixture of a C 4 F 8 gas, an O 2 gas and an Ar gas at a predetermined flow rate ratio
- a high frequency power from the high frequency power supply 18 is applied to the susceptor 11 and a DC voltage from the DC power supply 22 is applied to the electrode plate 20 , thereby generating an electric field, so that the wafer W is attracted and held on the susceptor 11 by the electric field.
- the processing gas discharged from the shower head 33 is plasmarized as described above. Radicals and/or ions generated in the plasma are converged to the top surface of the wafer W by the focus ring 24 to etch the top surface of the wafer W.
- the aforementioned plasma processing apparatus 1 from the plasma produced, some parts which are not converged to the top surface of the wafer collide with an inner wall of the chamber 10 to generate particles. Some of the generated particles, which are not discharged through the main exhaust line or the rough suction line, are deposited on the top surface of the susceptor 11 .
- the particles deposited on the top surface of the susceptor 11 may be attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W as foreign materials when the wafer W is mounted on the top surface of the susceptor 11 .
- the processing apparatus 1 after the etching process has been performed on the wafer W, while the wafer W is lifted by the pusher pins 30 from the top surface of the susceptor 11 to form a space therebetween, a high voltage is applied to the electrode plate 20 , an N 2 gas is supplied into the space through the thermally conductive gas supply openings 27 and the chamber 10 is exhausted through the rough suction line.
- the processing gas is introduced through the shower head 33 into the chamber 10 . In this way, the particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W can be removed.
- FIG. 2 is a graph showing a sequence of the substrate cleaning process performed in the plasma processing apparatus in FIG. 1 .
- the substrate cleaning process is performed after an etching process has been performed on the wafer W.
- the substrate cleaning process is performed under the following initial conditions. After having undergone the etching process, the wafer is still mounted on the top surface of the susceptor 11 . No voltage is applied to the electrode plate 20 (HV 0 ). The APC 14 is opened (APC OPEN) and the TMP 15 is actuated. That is, the inside of the chamber 10 is depressurized (vacuum-suctioned) through the main exhaust line and the valves V 1 ⁇ V 3 are all closed (V 1 CLOSE, V 2 CLOSE, V 3 CLOSE).
- the pusher pins 30 accommodated in the susceptor 11 (PIN DOWN) is pushed up to lift and separate the wafer W from the susceptor 11 .
- the height of the wafer W lifted by the pusher pins 30 from the susceptor 11 it is preferable to be in a range of 10 ⁇ 20 mm. In this way, there is formed a space S between the top surface of the susceptor 11 and the bottom surface of the wafer W.
- the APC 14 is closed (APC CLOSE) and, at the same time, the valve V 2 of the exhaust pipe 17 and the valve V 3 of the thermally conductive gas feeding pipe 29 are opened (V 2 OPEN, V 3 OPEN).
- An N 2 gas is then injected through the thermally conductive gas supply openings 27 into the space S toward the bottom surface of the wafer W lifted and the rough suction line exhausts the N 2 gas injected into the space S together with the gas remaining in the chamber 10 to the outside thereof. By doing so, there is formed a viscous flow having a high gas viscosity, which flows from the bottom surface of the wafer W toward the periphery of the susceptor 11 in the space S.
- the rough suction line exhausts the N 2 gas in the chamber 10 such that the pressure in the chamber 10 is not decreased below the predetermined level, e.g., 133 Pa (1 Torr) and is preferably maintained in a range of, e.g., 1.33 ⁇ 10 3 ⁇ 1.33 ⁇ 10 4 Pa (10 ⁇ 100 Torr).
- the viscous flow can be surely generated in the space S.
- the viscous flow captures particles detached from the bottom surface of the wafer W and discharges them together with the gas in the chamber 10 to the outside thereof.
- the DC power supply 22 alternately applies to the electrode plate 20 high voltages of different polarities, e.g., +500 V and ⁇ 500 V (HV +500, HV ⁇ 500).
- high voltages e.g., +500 V and ⁇ 500 V
- an electrostatic field is formed in the chamber 10 , particularly in the space S, so that an electrostatic stress, e.g., Maxwell stress, is applied on the bottom surface of the wafer W. Therefore, the adsorptive force attracting the particles to the bottom surface of the wafer W becomes weak and the particles are detached therefrom.
- the detached particles are discharged out of the chamber 10 from the space S by the viscous flow described above.
- the electrostatic stress is effectively applied on the bottom surface of the wafer W upon a high voltage application to the electrode plate 20 and a stoppage thereof.
- the effective electrostatic stress is repeatedly applied on the bottom surface of the wafer W. Accordingly, the particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W can be more efficiently removed.
- a magnitude of the voltage alternately applied to the electrode plate 20 is preferable to be great. For example, it is 500 V or greater and preferably 2 kV or greater. In this way, it is possible to make the electrostatic stress greater, thereby ensuring the detachment of the particles.
- the electrode plate 20 will be charged (charged up). As a result, the electrostatic stress being applied on the bottom surface of the wafer W will become small, resulting in deterioration in the removal efficiency of the particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W.
- the electrode plate 20 is not charged, thereby preventing deterioration in the removal efficiency of the particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W.
- the effectiveness of the electrostatic stress is substantially related with the number of the application of the high voltage to the electrode plate 20 and not much depends on the duration of the application of the high voltage to the electrode plate 20 . Accordingly, the application time of the high voltage to the electrode 20 may be, e.g., 1 sec or less.
- the valve V 1 of the processing gas inlet line 38 is opened, and an inactive gas, e.g., an N 2 gas, instead of the processing gas, is introduced into the chamber through the shower head 33 .
- an inactive gas e.g., an N 2 gas
- the introduced N 2 gas generates a traveling shock wave which reaches the lifted wafer W.
- an impact force is applied to the wafer W, so that the particles attached to the bottom surface thereof are detached therefrom.
- the detached particles are discharged by the viscous flow from the space S to outside of the chamber 10 .
- an orifice mechanism e.g., a mass flow controller or a slow-up valve is not disposed at downstream of the valve V 1 in the processing gas inlet line 38 .
- valve V 1 of the processing gas inlet line 38 is opened (V 1 OPEN)
- valve V 1 of the processing gas inlet line 38 is closed (V 1 CLOSE)
- APC OPEN the valve V 2 of the exhaust pipe 17 and the valve V 3 of the thermally conductive gas feeding pipe 29 are closed (V 2 CLOSE, V 3 CLOSE), and the processing is completed.
- the wafer, on which the substrate cleaning process described above has been performed, is unloaded from the chamber through the loading/unloading port 31 to a transfer chamber, e.g., a load-lock chamber.
- a transfer chamber e.g., a load-lock chamber.
- the load-lock chamber will not be contaminated by the particles.
- N 2 gas is injected through the thermally conductive gas supply openings 27 into the space S and the N 2 gas injected into the space S is discharged through the rough suction line to the outside of the chamber 10 while the space S is formed, so that a viscous flow is formed in the space S.
- the detached particles are captured by the viscous flow to be discharged from the space S to the outside of the chamber 10 .
- the particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W can be sufficiently removed therefrom without damaging the wafer W.
- the N 2 gas in the chamber 10 is discharged through the rough suction line while the pressure in the chamber 10 is maintained above a predetermined level.
- the main exhaust line under the condition that the opening degree of the APC 14 is small, the N 2 gas and the like in the chamber 10 may be discharged in a manner that the pressure in the chamber 10 is not decreased below the predetermined level. By doing so, the viscous flow also can be formed in the space S.
- the present invention is not limited to the etching processing apparatus, but may be applied to any other plasma processing apparatus including a CVD apparatus, an ashing apparatus and the like.
- the plasma processing apparatus as the substrate cleaning apparatus in accordance with the second preferred embodiment, as similarly to the first preferred embodiment, an electrostatic field is formed and an electrostatic stress is applied on the bottom surface of the wafer W while the wafer W is separated by pusher pins 40 to be described later from the top surface of the susceptor 11 to form the space S.
- the second preferred embodiment is different from the first preferred embodiment in that the electrostatic field is formed by applying a high voltage to the wafer W through the pusher pins 40 , not to the electrode plate 20 .
- FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing configurations of the pusher pins in the plasma processing apparatus as the substrate cleaning apparatus in accordance with the second preferred embodiment.
- the pusher pin 40 is a rod-shaped body made of a conductive material.
- One end of the pusher pin 40 which comes to contact with the bottom surface of the wafer W, has a semi-spherical shape and the other end is electrically connected to a DC power supply 41 .
- the surface of the pusher pin 40 is preferably coated with, e.g., a dielectric material in order to prevent a discharge from the surface, but at the semi-spherical end, the conductive material is exposed for a high voltage application to the wafer W.
- the pusher pin 40 can be moved in a vertical direction in the drawing by converting the rotation of a motor (not shown) into a linear movement through, e.g., a ball screw.
- a plurality of pusher pins 40 is disposed in a portion in the top surface of the susceptor 11 where the wafer W is attracted and held.
- the pusher pins 40 protrude from the top surface of the susceptor 11 to lift and separate the wafer W from the susceptor 11 .
- a space S is formed between the top surface of the susceptor 11 and the bottom surface of the wafer W.
- a high voltage is applied from the DC power supply 41 via the pusher pins 40 to the wafer W.
- an N 2 gas and the like is supplied through the thermally conductive gas supply openings 27 into the space S and the chamber 10 is evacuated by exhaustion through the rough suction line.
- a processing gas is introduced into the chamber 10 through the shower head 33 while the inside of the chamber 10 is depressurized by exhaustion through the rough suction line.
- a substrate cleaning method performed in the plasma processing apparatus as the substrate cleaning apparatus in accordance with the second preferred embodiment is different from that of the first preferred embodiment in that high voltages of different polarities are kept being alternately applied via the pusher pins 40 to the wafer in lieu of the electrode plate 20 .
- they are same in that an electrostatic field is formed in the space S and an electrostatic stress is applied on the bottom surface of the wafer W, thereby making the adsorptive force adsorbing the particles to the bottom surface of the wafer W weak and allowing the particles to be detached therefrom.
- the magnitude of the high voltage applied to the wafer W via the pusher pins 40 is, e.g., 500 V or greater, preferably 2 kV or greater and the application time of the high voltage may be, e.g., 1 sec or less.
- the substrate cleaning method since the high voltages of the different polarities are kept being alternately applied to the wafer W via the pusher pin 40 while the space S is formed between the susceptor 11 and the wafer W, an electrostatic field is formed in the space S and an electrostatic stress is applied on the bottom surface of the wafer W. Further, since an N 2 gas is introduced into the chamber 10 while the space S is formed and the inside of the chamber 10 is depressurized by exhaustion through the rough suction line, a traveling shock wave is generated in the chamber 10 and an impact force is applied to the wafer W due to the generated traveling shock wave. As a result, the particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W are detached therefrom into the space S. Therefore, since the detachment of the particles requires no sputtering by ions of the plasma and no chemical reaction by radicals, the wafer is not damaged.
- N 2 gas is injected through the thermally conductive gas supply openings 27 into the space S and the N 2 gas injected into the space S is discharged through the rough suction line to the outside of the chamber 10 while the space S is formed, so that a viscous flow is formed in the space S.
- the detached particles are captured by the viscous flow to be discharged from the space S to the outside of the chamber 10 .
- the particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W can be sufficiently removed therefrom without damaging the wafer W.
- the substrate cleaning apparatus of the third preferred embodiment is different from those of the first and the second preferred embodiment in that only a cleaning is performed on the bottom surface of the wafer W without performing any plasma processing.
- FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view schematically showing configurations of the substrate cleaning apparatus in accordance with the third preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- the substrate cleaning apparatus 42 includes a box-shaped chamber 43 made of a metal, e.g., aluminum or stainless steel, and there is provided in the chamber 43 a columnar stage 44 on which the wafer W is mounted.
- a box-shaped chamber 43 made of a metal, e.g., aluminum or stainless steel, and there is provided in the chamber 43 a columnar stage 44 on which the wafer W is mounted.
- the exhaust passageway 65 is connected to a rough suction line.
- the rough suction line includes an exhaust pipe 45 having a diameter of, e.g., 25 mm which allows the exhaust passageway 65 to communicate with a DP 46 that is an exhausting pump, and a valve V 5 disposed in the exhaust pipe 45 .
- the valve V 5 can block the communication between the exhaust passageway 65 and the DP 46 .
- a gas in the chamber 43 is discharged through the rough suction line by using DP 46 .
- a disc-shaped electrode plate 47 Disposed at an upper portion in the stage 44 is a disc-shaped electrode plate 47 made of a conductive film for attracting and holding the wafer W by using an electrostatic adsorptive force.
- a DC power supply 48 is electrically connected to the electrode plate 47 .
- a plurality of gas supply openings 49 is opened in a portion of the top surface of the stage 44 on which the wafer W is attracted and held.
- the gas supply openings 49 communicate via a gas supply line 50 provided in the stage 44 with a gas feeding pipe 64 having a valve V 6 , and a gas, e.g., an N 2 gas from a first gas supply unit (not shown) connected to the gas feeding pipe 64 is supplied into a gap between the top surface of the stage 44 and the bottom surface of the wafer W.
- the valve V 6 can block the communication between the gas supply openings 49 and the first gas supply unit.
- a plurality of pins 51 are disposed to protrude from the top surface of the stage 44 .
- the pins 51 lift the wafer W loaded in the chamber 43 to make it separated from the stage 44 .
- the pins 51 may be constructed to move vertically as similar to the pusher pins 30 .
- a gate valve 53 for opening and closing a loading/unloading port 52 for the wafer W. Furthermore, connected to a ceiling portion of the chamber 43 is a gas inlet line 54 for introducing a gas, e.g., an N 2 gas, from a second gas supply unit (not shown).
- a valve V 4 is provided in the gas inlet line 38 . The valve V 4 can block the communication between the inside of the chamber 43 and the second gas supply unit.
- the substrate cleaning apparatus 42 is installed in, e.g., a parallel type substrate processing system and removes particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W on which a plasma process has been performed by a plasma processing apparatus 56 to be described later included in the substrate processing system.
- FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing configurations of the substrate processing system in which the substrate cleaning apparatus is installed.
- the substrate processing system 55 includes a process ship 59 comprised of a plasma processing apparatus 56 for performing an etching process on a wafer W and a load-lock chamber 58 wherein a link-shaped single pick type transfer arm 57 for loading and unloading the wafer W to and from the plasma processing apparatus 56 is installed; a loading boat 60 for accommodating a carrier box containing therein one lot of wafers W; an orienter for pre-aligning the wafer W; the above-described substrate cleaning apparatus 42 ; and a loader module 63 , as a rectangular common transferring passageway, in which a scalar dual-arm type transfer arm 62 is installed.
- the process ship 59 , the loading boat 60 , the orienter 61 and the substrate cleaning apparatus 42 are detachably connected to the loader module 63 , wherein the substrate cleaning apparatus 42 is installed, opposite via the loader module 63 to the orienter 61 , at one end of the loading module 63 in a longitudinal direction thereof.
- the wafer W subject to a plasma processing in the plasma processing apparatus 56 is loaded in the substrate cleaning apparatus 42 by using the transfer arm 57 in the load-lock chamber 58 and the transfer arm 62 in the loader module 63 .
- the substrate cleaning apparatus 42 removes particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W by performing a substrate cleaning process to be described later.
- the substrate cleaning process is performed under the following initial conditions. After having undergone an etching process, the wafer W is still mounted on the top surface of the stage 44 . No voltage is applied to the electrode plate 47 . The valves V 4 ⁇ V 6 are all closed.
- the wafer W loaded into the chamber 43 is mounted on the pins 51 protruding from the top surface of the stage 44 .
- the height of the wafer W lifted by the pins 51 from the stage 44 is preferably to be 10 ⁇ 20 mm as similar to the first preferred embodiment. In this way, there is formed a space S between the top surface of the stage 44 and the bottom surface of the wafer W.
- the gate valve 53 is closed and, at the same time, the valve V 5 of the exhaust pipe 45 and the valve V 6 of the gas feeding pipe 64 are opened.
- An N 2 gas is then injected through the gas supply openings 49 into the space S toward the bottom surface of the wafer W lifted and the N 2 gas injected into the space S is exhausted through the rough suction line out of the chamber 43 .
- the N 2 gas in the chamber 43 is preferably exhausted through the rough exhaust line such that the pressure in the chamber 43 is not decreased below a predetermined level. The viscous flow captures particles detached from the bottom surface of the wafer W and discharges them out of the chamber 10 .
- the DC power supply 48 is kept being alternately applied to the electrode plate 47 high voltages of different polarities.
- an electrostatic field is formed in the space S and an electrostatic stress is applied on the bottom surface of the wafer W. Therefore, the adsorptive force attracting the particles to be adsorbed to the bottom surface of the wafer W becomes weak, so that the particles are detached therefrom. Further, the detached particles are discharged out of the chamber 43 from the space S by the viscous flow described above.
- the magnitude of the high voltage applied to the electrode plate 20 is, e.g., 500 V or greater, preferably 2 kV or greater and the application time of the high voltage may be, e.g., 1 sec or less.
- the valve V 4 of the gas inlet line 54 is opened and an N 2 gas is introduced into the chamber 43 from the gas inlet line 54 .
- the pressure in a portion immediately under a ceiling portion of the chamber 43 is suddenly increased, so that the introduced N 2 gas generates a traveling shock wave and the generated traveling shock wave applies an impact force to the wafer.
- the particles attached to the bottom surface thereof are detached therefrom.
- the detached particles are also discharged by the viscous flow from the space S to outside of the chamber 43 .
- it is preferable that no orifice mechanism is installed at downstream of the valve V 4 in the gas inlet line 54 .
- the valve V 4 of the gas inlet line 54 is opened, the valve V 4 of the gas inlet line 54 , the valve V 5 of the exhaust pipe 45 and the valve V 6 of the gas feeding pipe 64 are closed and the processing is completed.
- the wafer W which has been subject to the substrate cleaning process described above is unloaded from the chamber 43 through the loading/unloading port 52 and loaded into the loader module 63 or the loading boat 60 . However, since the particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W are sufficiently removed, the load-lock chamber will not be contaminated by the particles.
- N 2 gas is injected through the thermally conductive gas supply openings 27 into the space S and the N 2 gas injected into the space S is discharged through the rough suction line to the outside of the chamber 10 while the space S is formed, so that a viscous flow is formed in the space S.
- the detached particles are captured by the viscous flow to be discharged from the space S to the outside of the chamber 43 .
- the particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W can be sufficiently removed therefrom without damaging the wafer W.
- the substrate cleaning apparatus 42 exclusively includes the DP 46
- the substrate cleaning apparatus 42 and the plasma processing apparatus 56 may commonly use the DP.
- the configurations of the substrate processing system may be simplified.
- the plasma processing apparatus serves as a substrate cleaning apparatus and a case where an exclusive substrate cleaning apparatus is provided
- other apparatus included in the substrate cleaning system may serve as the substrate cleaning apparatus in accordance with the present invention.
- the load-lock chamber includes a transfer arm, an exhaust unit for exhausting the inside of the load-lock chamber, and a gas introduction unit for introducing a gas into the load-lock chamber.
- the transfer arm has pins protruding from a wafer mounting surface, an electrode for generating an electrostatic field between a wafer W and the wafer mounting surface, and a gas injection unit for injecting a gas toward the bottom surface of the wafer.
- a high voltage is applied to the electrode, a gas is injected toward the bottom surface of the wafer W and the load-lock chamber is evacuated by the exhaust unit. Further, a gas is introduced into the load-lock chamber from the gas introduction unit while the inside of the load-lock chamber is depressurized by the exhaust unit.
- the wafer W was mounted on the pusher pins 30 protruding from the susceptor 11 in the chamber 10 .
- the APC 14 was closed and the valve V 2 of the exhaust pipe 17 and the valve V 3 of the thermally conductive gas feeding pipe 29 were opened.
- an N 2 gas was injected through the thermally conductive gas supply openings 27 toward the bottom surface of the wafer W while slowly exhausting the inside of the chamber 10 .
- the N 2 gas was introduced into the chamber 10 at a flow rate of 7 . 0 ⁇ 10 4 sccm. Voltages of +2 kV and ⁇ 2 kV were alternately applied to the electrode plate 20 six times while the valve V 1 was opened, and the valve V 1 was then closed. Furthermore, by opening the valve V 1 again, the N 2 gas was introduced into the chamber 10 at a flow rate of 7.0 ⁇ 10 4 sccm. Voltages of +2 kV and ⁇ 2 kV were alternately applied to the electrode plate 20 five times while the valve V 1 was opened, and the valve V 1 was then closed. At that time, after irradiating a laser beam to the space S, scattered lights generated by the particles were observed by photographing them with a CCD camera. Status of the scattered lights photographed is illustrated in FIGS. 6A to 6 C.
- FIG. 6A is a diagram schematically showing the status of the space S in a case where the voltages of +2 kV and ⁇ 2 kV were alternately applied to the electrode plate 20 repeatedly while the valve V 1 was opened.
- FIG. 6A it was observed that a large number of particles were detached from the bottom surface due to the traveling shock wave generated by the introduced N 2 gas and the electrostatic stress generated by the alternate application of the voltages and the detached particles formed a group L.
- FIG. 6B is a diagram schematically showing the status of the space S after a few seconds had elapsed from the time corresponding to the status of FIG. 6A .
- FIG. 6B it was observed that the group L of the particles was being removed from the space S by the viscous flow flowing from the bottom surface of the wafer W toward the periphery of the susceptor 11 in the space S.
- FIG. 6C is a diagram schematically showing the status of the space S after a few seconds had elapsed from the time corresponding to the status of FIG. 6B .
- FIG. 6C it was observed that the group L of the particles was completely removed from the space S.
- the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis presents the number of particles, voltage value and pressure value.
- V E represents a voltage applied to the electrode plate 20
- V W presents a voltage induced in the wafer W by V E
- P indicates a pressure in the chamber 10 .
- each point plotted in the drawing indicates the number of particles observed at each observation time.
- the portions where the value of P is constant are those where the pressure in the chamber 10 exceeds a measurable range.
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a substrate cleaning apparatus and method; and, more particularly, to a substrate cleaning apparatus and method for removing foreign materials attached to a bottom surface of a substrate subject to a plasma processing.
- Conventionally, in a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device, a processing using a plasma (hereinafter, referred to as “plasma processing”), such as etching or sputtering and CVD (chemical vapor deposition), is performed on a semiconductor wafer (hereinafter, referred to as “wafer”) that is an object to be processed.
- For example, as shown in
FIG. 8 , aplasma processing apparatus 80 for performing an etching process includes acylindrical vessel 81 for containing a wafer; asusceptor 82 disposed in thecylindrical vessel 81, thesusceptor 82 serving as a mounting table on which the wafer is mounted; andpusher pins 83 disposed to penetrate through thesusceptor 82 toward a surface thereof on which the wafer is mounted (hereinafter, referred to as “mounting surface”) Thesusceptor 82 has in the mounting surface anelectrostatic chuck 85 in which an electrode connected to aDC power supply 84 is embedded, and alower electrode 87 connected to a highfrequency power supply 86 is provided in the susceptor 82 (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 5-226291,FIG. 1 ). - In the
plasma processing apparatus 80, once the wafer on the mounting surface is adsorbed to theelectrostatic chuck 85 by an electrostatic adsorptive force, a high frequency power is applied to thelower electrode 87 to generate a high frequency electric field between a top surface in thecylindrical vessel 81 and thesusceptor 82, so that a processing gas introduced into thecylindrical vessel 81 is dissociated to generate a plasma. The generated plasma is converged to a top surface of the wafer by a focus ring (not shown) disposed to surround the periphery of the wafer to etch an oxide film and the like formed on the top surface of the wafer. - Further, the wafer subject to the etching process is lifted from the mounting surface by the
pusher pins 83, and is unloaded out of thecylindrical vessel 81 by a transfer mechanism such as a scalar arm (not shown) moved therein. - From the plasma produced in the etching process, some parts, which are not converged to the top surface of the wafer, collide with an inner wall of the cylindrical vessel to generate particles. Further, during the etching process, there are produced reaction products. Most of these particles and reaction products are discharged out of the cylindrical vessel by using an exhaust unit (not shown), but some of the particles and/or the reaction products remaining in the
cylindrical vessel 81 are deposited on the mounting surface. In addition, particles generated from thesusceptor 82 due to the plasma and the like are also deposited on the mounting surface. The particles and/or the reaction products deposited on the mounting surface come to be attached as foreign materials to a bottom surface of a wafer when the wafer is mounted on the mounting surface. As a method for removing the particles and/or the reaction products attached to the bottom surface of the wafer, there has been known a wet cleaning using a cleaning fluid and the like. - Further, as a method without using the cleaning fluid, there has been known a removal method wherein a plasma is generated between the wafer lifted by the pusher pins and the mounting surface and the particles on the bottom surface of the wafer are removed by a sputtering action of ions and/or a chemical reaction of radicals in the generated plasma (see, e.g., column 2, line 67 to column 3,
line 17 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,049). - However, by repeating the wet cleaning, the cleaning fluid is contaminated. Therefore, in the wet cleaning, the top surface of the wafer tends to be contaminated by, e.g., particles contained in the contaminated cleaning fluid. Further, when the wafer that has been subject to the etching process is loaded in a chamber for a next process, the particles remaining on the wafer may contaminate the inside of the chamber.
- Moreover, in case of removing the particles on the bottom surface of the wafer by a plasma, the top surface of the wafer suffers damages owing to an excessive plasma processing due to the plasma generated, i.e., the top surface of the wafer is over-etched due to an excessive etching performed thereon.
- It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a substrate cleaning apparatus and method capable of sufficiently removing foreign materials attached to a bottom surface of a substrate without damaging the substrate.
- In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a substrate cleaning apparatus including: a chamber for accommodating a substrate; a mounting table, disposed in the chamber, for mounting thereon the substrate; an electrode disposed in the mounting table, the substrate being attracted and held on the mounting table as a voltage is applied to the electrode; an exhaust unit for exhausting the inside of the chamber; a separating unit for separating the mounting table and the substrate to form a space therebetween; and a gas supply unit for supplying a gas into the space, wherein while the space is formed, a voltage is applied to the electrode, the gas supply unit supplies a gas into the space and the exhaust unit exhausts the inside of the chamber.
- In accordance with the substrate cleaning apparatus, since a voltage is applied to the electrode disposed in the mounting table while the space is formed between the mounting table and the substrate, an electrostatic field is formed in the space, so that an electrostatic stress is applied on the bottom surface of the substrate. Therefore, foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate are detached therefrom. Further, since a gas is supplied into the space and the chamber is evacuated while the space is formed, a gas flow is formed in the space and the foreign materials are removed from the space to be discharged out of the chamber by the gas flow. Accordingly, the substrate cleaning apparatus can sufficiently remove the foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate without damaging the substrate.
- Preferably, the substrate cleaning apparatus further includes a gas introduction unit for introducing a gas into the chamber while the chamber is depressurized and the space is formed. With such configurations, since a gas is introduced into the chamber while the chamber is depressurized, a traveling shock wave is generated in the chamber and foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate are detached into the space by the shock wave. Accordingly, the foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate can be efficiently removed therefrom without damaging the substrate.
- Preferably, the voltage application to the electrode is discontinuously performed. Since the voltage is discontinuously applied to the electrode plate, the voltage application is repeatedly performed, so that an electrostatic stress is applied on the bottom surface of the substrate repeatedly. Accordingly, the foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate can be more efficiently removed therefrom.
- Preferably, voltages of different polarities are alternately applied to the electrode. Since voltages of different polarities are alternately applied to the electrode plate, it is possible to prevent the substrate from being charged. If the substrate is charged, the electrostatic stress being applied on the bottom surface of the substrate by the voltage application becomes reduced. Accordingly, by preventing the substrate from being charged, it is possible to suppress the deterioration in removal efficiency of the foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate.
- Preferably, an absolute value of the voltages is 500 V or greater. Since the voltage of 500 V or greater is applied to the electrode while the space is formed, it is possible to increase the electrostatic stress being applied on the bottom surface of the substrate, ensuring the detachment of the foreign materials.
- Preferably, the magnitude of the voltages is 2 kV or greater. Since the magnitude of the voltage is 2 kV or greater, it is possible to further increase the electrostatic stress.
- Preferably, the exhaust unit maintains the pressure in the chamber at 133 Pa or greater while the space is formed. Since the exhaust unit maintains the pressure in the chamber at 133 Pa or greater, a viscous flow having a great gas viscosity can be generated in the space. The foreign materials detached from the bottom surface of the substrate are captured by the viscous flow to be discharged together with the gas in the chamber to the outside thereof. Accordingly, the foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate can be surely removed therefrom.
- Preferably, the exhaust unit maintains the pressure in the chamber in a range of 1.33×103˜1.33×104 Pa while the space is formed. Accordingly, the viscous flow can be surely generated in the space.
- In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a substrate cleaning apparatus including: a chamber for accommodating a substrate; a mounting table, disposed in the chamber, for mounting thereon the substrate; an exhaust unit for exhausting the inside of the chamber; a separating unit for separating the mounting table and the substrate to form a space therebetween, the separating unit contacting with the substrate to apply a voltage thereto; a gas supply unit for supplying a gas into the space; and a gas introduction unit for introducing a gas into the chamber, wherein while the space is formed, a voltage is applied to the substrate, the gas supply unit supplies a gas into the space and the exhaust unit exhausts the inside of the chamber; and the gas introduction unit introduces a gas into the chamber while the chamber is depressurized and the space is formed.
- In accordance with the substrate cleaning apparatus, since a voltage is applied via the separating unit to the substrate while the space is formed between the mounting table and the substrate, an electrostatic field is formed in the space, so that an electrostatic stress is applied on the bottom surface of the substrate. Therefore, foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate are detached therefrom. Further, since the gas introduction unit introduces a gas into the chamber while the space is formed and the inside of the chamber is depressurized, a traveling shock wave is generated in the chamber and foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate are detached into the space by the shock wave. Further, since a gas is supplied into the space and the chamber is evacuated while the space is formed, a gas flow is formed in the space and the foreign materials are removed from the space to be discharged out of the chamber by the gas flow. Accordingly, the substrate cleaning apparatus can sufficiently remove the foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate without damaging the substrate.
- In accordance with still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a substrate cleaning method for removing foreign materials attached to a bottom surface of a substrate, the method including the steps of: accommodating the substrate in a chamber; mounting the substrate on a mounting table disposed in the chamber; separating the mounting table and the substrate to form a space therebetween; applying a voltage to an electrode disposed in the mounting table while the space is formed; supplying a gas into the space while the space is formed; and exhausting the inside of the chamber while the space is formed.
- In accordance with the substrate cleaning method, since a voltage is applied to the electrode plate disposed in the mounting table while the space is formed between the mounting table and the substrate, an electrostatic field is formed in the space, so that an electrostatic stress is applied on the bottom surface of the substrate. Therefore, foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate are detached therefrom. Further, since a gas is supplied into the space and the chamber is evacuated while the space is formed, a gas flow is formed in the space and the foreign materials are removed from the space to be discharged out of the chamber by the gas flow. Accordingly, the foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate can be sufficiently removed without damaging the substrate.
- Preferably, the substrate cleaning method further including the step of: introducing a gas into the chamber while the chamber is depressurized and the space is formed. In this case, since a gas is introduced into the chamber while the space is formed and the chamber is depressurized, a traveling shock wave is generated in the chamber and foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate are detached into the space by the shock wave. Accordingly, the foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate can be efficiently removed therefrom without damaging the substrate.
- Preferably, at the voltage applying step, the voltage is discontinuously applied to the electrode. Since the voltage is discontinuously applied to the electrode plate, the voltage application is repeatedly performed, so that an electrostatic stress is applied on the bottom surface of the substrate repeatedly. Accordingly, the foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate can be more efficiently removed therefrom.
- Preferably, at the voltage applying step, voltages of different polarities are alternately applied to the electrode. Since voltages of different polarities are alternately applied to the electrode plate, it is possible to prevent the substrate from being charged. If the substrate is charged, the electrostatic stress being applied on the bottom surface of the substrate by the voltage application will be reduced. Accordingly, by preventing the substrate from being charged, it is possible to suppress the deterioration in removal efficiency of the foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate.
- In accordance with still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a substrate cleaning method for removing foreign materials attached to a bottom surface of a substrate, the method including the steps of: accommodating the substrate in a chamber; mounting the substrate on a mounting table disposed in the chamber; separating the mounting table and the substrate to form a space therebetween; applying a voltage to the substrate while the space is formed; supplying a gas into the space while the space is formed; exhausting the inside of the chamber while the space is formed; and introducing a gas into the chamber while the chamber is depressurized and the space is formed.
- In accordance with the substrate cleaning method, since a voltage is applied via the separating unit to the substrate while the space is formed between the mounting table and the substrate, an electrostatic field is formed in the space, so that an electrostatic stress is applied on the bottom surface of the substrate. Therefore, foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate are detached therefrom. Further, since a gas is introduced into the chamber while the space is formed and the inside of the chamber is depressurized, a traveling shock wave is generated in the chamber and foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate are detached into the space by the shock wave. Further, since a gas is supplied into the space and the chamber is evacuated while the space is formed, a gas flow is formed in the space and the foreign materials are removed from the space to be discharged out of the chamber by the gas flow. Accordingly, the foreign materials attached to the bottom surface of the substrate can be sufficiently removed without damaging the substrate.
- The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments, given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view schematically showing configurations of a plasma processing apparatus as a substrate cleaning apparatus in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 depicts an operational sequence of the substrate cleaning apparatus performed in the plasma processing apparatus inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 sets forth a schematic view showing configurations of pusher pins in a plasma processing apparatus as a substrate cleaning apparatus in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 4 presents a cross sectional view schematically showing configurations of a substrate cleaning apparatus in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 5 describes a schematic view showing configurations of a substrate processing system including the substrate cleaning apparatus inFIG. 4 ; -
FIG. 6A provides a diagram schematically showing a status of a space S in a case where voltages of +2 kV and −2 kV are alternately applied to an electrode plate repeatedly while a valve V1 is opened; -
FIG. 6B represents a diagram schematically showing the status of the space S after a few seconds have elapsed from the time corresponding to the status shown inFIG. 6A ; -
FIG. 6C sets forth a diagram schematically showing the status of the space S after a few seconds have elapsed from the time corresponding to the status shown inFIG. 6B ; -
FIG. 7 depicts a graph showing observation results of removed particles in an experimental example of the present invention; and -
FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a configuration of a conventional plasma processing apparatus for performing an etching process on a wafer W. - Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
- First, there will be described a plasma processing apparatus as a substrate cleaning apparatus in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
-
FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view schematically showing configurations of the plasma processing apparatus as the substrate cleaning apparatus in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. - In
FIG. 1 , theplasma processing apparatus 1 constructed as an etching processing apparatus for performing an etching process on a wafer W includes a cylindrical chamber (accommodating chamber) 10 made of a metal, e.g., aluminum or stainless steel, and there is provided in the chamber 10 a columnar susceptor (mounting table) 11 as a stage on which the wafer W is mounted. - Formed between a sidewall of the
chamber 10 and thesusceptor 11 is anexhaust passageway 12 serving as a flow passage through which a gas above thesusceptor 11 is discharged out of thechamber 10. Anannular baffle plate 13 is provided in theexhaust passageway 12 and a downstream space of thebaffle plate 13 in theexhaust passageway 12 is made to communicate with an automatic pressure control valve (hereinafter, referred to as “APC”) 14 which is a variable butterfly valve. TheAPC 14 is connected to a turbo molecular pump (hereinafter, referred to as “TMP”) 15 which is an exhaust pump for vacuum suction, and is connected via theTMP 15 to a dry pump 16 (hereinafter, referred to as “DP”) which is an exhaust pump. An exhaust line including theAPC 14, theTMP 15 and theDP 16 is referred to as a “main exhaust line” hereinafter. The main exhaust line not only controls a pressure in thechamber 10 by using theAPC 14 but also depressurizes the inside of thechamber 10 up to an approximately vacuum state by using theTMP 15 and theDP 16. - Further, another exhaust line (hereinafter, referred to as “rough suction line”) (exhaust unit), other than the main exhaust line, is connected to the downstream space of the
baffle plate 13 in theexhaust passageway 12. The rough suction line includes an exhaust pipe having a diameter of, e.g., 25 mm which allows the downstream space of thebaffle plate 13 to communicate with theDP 16, and a valve V2 disposed in theexhaust pipe 17. The valve V2 can block the communication between the downstream space of thebaffle plate 13 and theDP 16. A gas in thechamber 10 is discharged through the rough suction line by usingDP 16. - A high
frequency power supply 18 for generating a plasma is electrically connected to thesusceptor 11 via amatching unit 19. The highfrequency power supply 18 applies a predetermined high frequency power of, e.g., 13.56 MHz to thesusceptor 11. As a result, thesusceptor 11 serves as a lower electrode. - Disposed at an upper portion in the
susceptor 11 is a disc-shapedelectrode plate 20 made of a conductive film for attracting and holding the wafer W by using an electrostatic adsorptive force. ADC power supply 22 is electrically connected to theelectrode plate 20. - The wafer W is attracted and held on the top surface of the
susceptor 11 by a Coulomb force or a Johnsen-Rahbek force generated by a DC voltage applied to theelectrode plate 20 from theDC power supply 22. Further, anannular focus ring 24 made of, e.g., silicon (Si) converges a plasma generated above thesusceptor 11 toward the wafer W. - Furthermore, for example, a circumferentially extending
annular coolant passageway 25 is provided in thesusceptor 11. Thecoolant passageway 25 is (:“circularly” removed) supplied with a coolant, e.g., cooling water, of a predetermined temperature from a chiller unit (not shown) via aconduit 26, which is to be circulated therethrough, so that the processing temperature of the wafer W on thesusceptor 11 is controlled by the temperature of the coolant. - A plurality of thermally conductive gas supply openings (gas supply unit) 27 is opened in a portion of the top surface of the
susceptor 11 on which the wafer W is attracted to be held. The thermally conductivegas supply openings 27 communicate via a thermally conductivegas supply line 28 provided in thesusceptor 11 with a thermally conductivegas feeding pipe 29 having a valve V3, and a thermally conductive gas, e.g., an He gas, from a thermally conductive gas supply unit (not shown) connected to the thermally conductivegas feeding pipe 29 is supplied to a gap between the top surface of thesusceptor 11 and the bottom surface of the wafer W. With such configurations, the heat transfer between the wafer W and thesusceptor 11 is enhanced. Further, the valve V3 can block the communication between the thermally conductivegas supply openings 27 and the thermally conductive gas supply unit. - Further, at the portion of the top surface of the
susceptor 11 on which the wafer W is attracted to be held, a plurality of pusher pins (separating unit) 30 as lifting pins are disposed to selectively protrude from the top surface of thesusceptor 11. In the drawings, the pusher pins 30 are vertically moved by converting a rotation of a motor (not shown) into a linear movement through, e.g., a ball screw. While the wafer is adsorptively held on the top surface of thesusceptor 11, the pusher pins 30 are lowered to be accommodated in thesusceptor 11. When unloading from thechamber 10 the wafer after being subject to a plasma processing such as the etching processing, the pusher pins 30 protrude from the top surface of thesusceptor 11 to lift and separate the wafer W from thesusceptor 11. At this time, there is formed a space between the top surface of thesusceptor 11 and the bottom surface of the wafer W. - At a sidewall of the
chamber 10, there is provided agate valve 32 for opening and closing a loading/unloadingport 31 for the wafer W. Furthermore, at a ceiling portion of thechamber 10, there is provided ashower head 33 as an upper electrode having a ground potential. With such configurations, a high frequency power from the highfrequency power supply 18 is applied between the susceptor 11 and theshower head 33. - The
shower head 33 at the ceiling portion includes anelectrode plate 35 as a bottom surface having a plurality ofgas flow openings 34 and anelectrode support 36 for detachably supporting theelectrode plate 35. Further, abuffer room 37 is formed inside theelectrode support 36, and a processinggas inlet line 38 from a processing gas supply unit (not shown) is connected to thebuffer room 37. A valve V1 is provided in the processinggas inlet line 38. The valve V1 can block the communication between thebuffer room 37 and the processing gas supply unit. In addition, disposed around thechamber 10 aremagnets 39 which are annularly or concentrically extended. - In the
chamber 10 of theplasma processing apparatus 1, there are formed a horizontal magnetic field directed to one direction by themagnets 39 and a vertical RF electric field by a high frequency voltage applied between the susceptor 11 and theshower head 33, so that a magnetron discharge occurs through the processing gas in thechamber 10, generating a high-density plasma from the processing gas in the vicinity of the top surface of thesusceptor 11. - To perform an etching process in the
plasma processing apparatus 1, after thegate valve 32 is opened, a wafer W to be processed is loaded in thechamber 10 and mounted on thesusceptor 11. Then, a processing gas (e.g., a gaseous mixture of a C4F8 gas, an O2 gas and an Ar gas at a predetermined flow rate ratio) is introduced into thechamber 10 at a predetermined flow rate and a predetermined flow rate ratio and a pressure in thechamber 10 is maintained at a predetermined value by theAPC 14 and the like. Furthermore, a high frequency power from the highfrequency power supply 18 is applied to thesusceptor 11 and a DC voltage from theDC power supply 22 is applied to theelectrode plate 20, thereby generating an electric field, so that the wafer W is attracted and held on thesusceptor 11 by the electric field. Further, the processing gas discharged from theshower head 33 is plasmarized as described above. Radicals and/or ions generated in the plasma are converged to the top surface of the wafer W by thefocus ring 24 to etch the top surface of the wafer W. - In the aforementioned
plasma processing apparatus 1, from the plasma produced, some parts which are not converged to the top surface of the wafer collide with an inner wall of thechamber 10 to generate particles. Some of the generated particles, which are not discharged through the main exhaust line or the rough suction line, are deposited on the top surface of thesusceptor 11. The particles deposited on the top surface of thesusceptor 11 may be attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W as foreign materials when the wafer W is mounted on the top surface of thesusceptor 11. To ameliorate the problem, in theprocessing apparatus 1, after the etching process has been performed on the wafer W, while the wafer W is lifted by the pusher pins 30 from the top surface of thesusceptor 11 to form a space therebetween, a high voltage is applied to theelectrode plate 20, an N2 gas is supplied into the space through the thermally conductivegas supply openings 27 and thechamber 10 is exhausted through the rough suction line. In addition, while the inside of thechamber 10 is depressurized by exhaustion through the rough suction line, the processing gas is introduced through theshower head 33 into thechamber 10. In this way, the particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W can be removed. - Hereinafter, there will be explained a substrate cleaning method for removing the particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W, which is performed in the
plasma processing apparatus 1. -
FIG. 2 is a graph showing a sequence of the substrate cleaning process performed in the plasma processing apparatus inFIG. 1 . The substrate cleaning process is performed after an etching process has been performed on the wafer W. - In
FIG. 2 , the substrate cleaning process is performed under the following initial conditions. After having undergone the etching process, the wafer is still mounted on the top surface of thesusceptor 11. No voltage is applied to the electrode plate 20 (HV 0). TheAPC 14 is opened (APC OPEN) and theTMP 15 is actuated. That is, the inside of thechamber 10 is depressurized (vacuum-suctioned) through the main exhaust line and the valves V1˜V3 are all closed (V1 CLOSE, V2 CLOSE, V3 CLOSE). - First, the pusher pins 30 accommodated in the susceptor 11 (PIN DOWN) is pushed up to lift and separate the wafer W from the
susceptor 11. At this time, there is no particular limitation to the height of the wafer W lifted by the pusher pins 30 from thesusceptor 11, but it is preferable to be in a range of 10˜20 mm. In this way, there is formed a space S between the top surface of thesusceptor 11 and the bottom surface of the wafer W. - Subsequently, the
APC 14 is closed (APC CLOSE) and, at the same time, the valve V2 of theexhaust pipe 17 and the valve V3 of the thermally conductivegas feeding pipe 29 are opened (V2 OPEN, V3 OPEN). An N2 gas is then injected through the thermally conductivegas supply openings 27 into the space S toward the bottom surface of the wafer W lifted and the rough suction line exhausts the N2 gas injected into the space S together with the gas remaining in thechamber 10 to the outside thereof. By doing so, there is formed a viscous flow having a high gas viscosity, which flows from the bottom surface of the wafer W toward the periphery of thesusceptor 11 in the space S. At this time, if the pressure in thechamber 10 is higher than a predetermined level, the viscous flow is more likely to be formed. To this end, the rough suction line exhausts the N2 gas in thechamber 10 such that the pressure in thechamber 10 is not decreased below the predetermined level, e.g., 133 Pa (1 Torr) and is preferably maintained in a range of, e.g., 1.33×103˜1.33×104 Pa (10˜100 Torr). In this way, the viscous flow can be surely generated in the space S. The viscous flow captures particles detached from the bottom surface of the wafer W and discharges them together with the gas in thechamber 10 to the outside thereof. - Next, the
DC power supply 22 alternately applies to theelectrode plate 20 high voltages of different polarities, e.g., +500 V and −500 V (HV +500, HV −500). At this time, due to the high voltage application to theelectrode plate 20, an electrostatic field is formed in thechamber 10, particularly in the space S, so that an electrostatic stress, e.g., Maxwell stress, is applied on the bottom surface of the wafer W. Therefore, the adsorptive force attracting the particles to the bottom surface of the wafer W becomes weak and the particles are detached therefrom. The detached particles are discharged out of thechamber 10 from the space S by the viscous flow described above. The electrostatic stress is effectively applied on the bottom surface of the wafer W upon a high voltage application to theelectrode plate 20 and a stoppage thereof. Here, in theplasma processing apparatus 1, since the high voltages are repeatedly applied to theelectrode plate 20, the effective electrostatic stress is repeatedly applied on the bottom surface of the wafer W. Accordingly, the particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W can be more efficiently removed. - A magnitude of the voltage alternately applied to the
electrode plate 20 is preferable to be great. For example, it is 500 V or greater and preferably 2 kV or greater. In this way, it is possible to make the electrostatic stress greater, thereby ensuring the detachment of the particles. - Further, if a high voltage of a same polarity is repeatedly applied to the
electrode plate 20, theelectrode plate 20 will be charged (charged up). As a result, the electrostatic stress being applied on the bottom surface of the wafer W will become small, resulting in deterioration in the removal efficiency of the particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W. However, in theplasma processing apparatus 1, since high voltages of different polarities are alternately applied to theelectrode plate 20, theelectrode plate 20 is not charged, thereby preventing deterioration in the removal efficiency of the particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W. - Furthermore, as described above, the effectiveness of the electrostatic stress is substantially related with the number of the application of the high voltage to the
electrode plate 20 and not much depends on the duration of the application of the high voltage to theelectrode plate 20. Accordingly, the application time of the high voltage to theelectrode 20 may be, e.g., 1 sec or less. - While the high voltages of different polarities are kept being alternately applied to the
electrode plate 20 as described above, the valve V1 of the processinggas inlet line 38 is opened, and an inactive gas, e.g., an N2 gas, instead of the processing gas, is introduced into the chamber through theshower head 33. At this time, since the inside of thechamber 10 is depressurized by exhaustion through the rough suction line, there occurs a sudden increase in pressure in a portion immediately under theshower head 33, so that the introduced N2 gas generates a traveling shock wave which reaches the lifted wafer W. As a result, an impact force is applied to the wafer W, so that the particles attached to the bottom surface thereof are detached therefrom. Also at this time, the detached particles are discharged by the viscous flow from the space S to outside of thechamber 10. - Moreover, in the
plasma processing apparatus 1, in order to effectively increase the pressure immediately under theshower head 33 in thechamber 10 upon the N2 gas introduction, it is preferable that an orifice mechanism, e.g., a mass flow controller or a slow-up valve is not disposed at downstream of the valve V1 in the processinggas inlet line 38. - Further, after the alternate application of the high voltages of different polarities to the
electrode plate 20 has been performed a predetermined number of times (e.g., four times in the drawings) under the condition that the valve V1 of the processinggas inlet line 38 is opened (V1 OPEN), the valve V1 of the processinggas inlet line 38 is closed (V1 CLOSE), theAPC 14 is opened (APC OPEN) and, at the same time, the valve V2 of theexhaust pipe 17 and the valve V3 of the thermally conductivegas feeding pipe 29 are closed (V2 CLOSE, V3 CLOSE), and the processing is completed. - The wafer, on which the substrate cleaning process described above has been performed, is unloaded from the chamber through the loading/unloading
port 31 to a transfer chamber, e.g., a load-lock chamber. However, since the particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W are sufficiently removed, the load-lock chamber will not be contaminated by the particles. - In accordance with the substrate cleaning method described above, since high voltages of different polarities are kept being alternately applied to the
electrode plate 20 while the space S is formed between the susceptor 11 and the wafer W, an electrostatic field is formed in the space S and an electrostatic stress is applied on the bottom surface of the wafer W. Further, since an N2 gas is introduced into thechamber 10 while the space S is formed and the inside of thechamber 10 is depressurized by exhaustion through the rough suction line, a traveling shock wave is generated in thechamber 10 and an impact force is applied to the wafer W due to the traveling shock wave, so that the particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W are detached therefrom into the space S. Therefore, since the detachment of the particles requires no sputtering by ions of the plasma and/or no chemical reaction by radicals, the wafer is not damaged. - An N2 gas is injected through the thermally conductive
gas supply openings 27 into the space S and the N2 gas injected into the space S is discharged through the rough suction line to the outside of thechamber 10 while the space S is formed, so that a viscous flow is formed in the space S. The detached particles are captured by the viscous flow to be discharged from the space S to the outside of thechamber 10. - Accordingly, the particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W can be sufficiently removed therefrom without damaging the wafer W.
- In the aforementioned
plasma processing apparatus 1, the N2 gas in thechamber 10 is discharged through the rough suction line while the pressure in thechamber 10 is maintained above a predetermined level. However, by using, instead of the rough suction line, the main exhaust line under the condition that the opening degree of theAPC 14 is small, the N2 gas and the like in thechamber 10 may be discharged in a manner that the pressure in thechamber 10 is not decreased below the predetermined level. By doing so, the viscous flow also can be formed in the space S. - Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the etching processing apparatus, but may be applied to any other plasma processing apparatus including a CVD apparatus, an ashing apparatus and the like.
- Hereinafter, there will be described a plasma processing apparatus as a substrate cleaning apparatus in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- The basic configurations and operations of the plasma processing apparatus as the substrate cleaning apparatus in accordance with the second preferred embodiment are substantially identical to those of the first preferred embodiment described above and, therefore, there will be described hereinafter only on different configurations and operations thereof from those of the first embodiment in order to avoid redundant descriptions.
- In the plasma processing apparatus as the substrate cleaning apparatus in accordance with the second preferred embodiment, as similarly to the first preferred embodiment, an electrostatic field is formed and an electrostatic stress is applied on the bottom surface of the wafer W while the wafer W is separated by
pusher pins 40 to be described later from the top surface of thesusceptor 11 to form the space S. However, the second preferred embodiment is different from the first preferred embodiment in that the electrostatic field is formed by applying a high voltage to the wafer W through the pusher pins 40, not to theelectrode plate 20. -
FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing configurations of the pusher pins in the plasma processing apparatus as the substrate cleaning apparatus in accordance with the second preferred embodiment. - In
FIG. 3 , thepusher pin 40 is a rod-shaped body made of a conductive material. One end of thepusher pin 40, which comes to contact with the bottom surface of the wafer W, has a semi-spherical shape and the other end is electrically connected to aDC power supply 41. Further, the surface of thepusher pin 40 is preferably coated with, e.g., a dielectric material in order to prevent a discharge from the surface, but at the semi-spherical end, the conductive material is exposed for a high voltage application to the wafer W. Thepusher pin 40 can be moved in a vertical direction in the drawing by converting the rotation of a motor (not shown) into a linear movement through, e.g., a ball screw. - A plurality of pusher pins 40 is disposed in a portion in the top surface of the
susceptor 11 where the wafer W is attracted and held. The pusher pins 40 protrude from the top surface of thesusceptor 11 to lift and separate the wafer W from thesusceptor 11. At this time, as similarly to the first preferred embodiment, a space S is formed between the top surface of thesusceptor 11 and the bottom surface of the wafer W. - In the plasma processing apparatus as the substrate cleaning apparatus in accordance with the second preferred embodiment, while the wafer is separated by the pusher pins 40 from the
susceptor 11 to form the space S after an etching process has been performed on the wafer W, a high voltage is applied from theDC power supply 41 via the pusher pins 40 to the wafer W. At the same time, an N2 gas and the like is supplied through the thermally conductivegas supply openings 27 into the space S and thechamber 10 is evacuated by exhaustion through the rough suction line. Further, a processing gas is introduced into thechamber 10 through theshower head 33 while the inside of thechamber 10 is depressurized by exhaustion through the rough suction line. - In addition, a substrate cleaning method performed in the plasma processing apparatus as the substrate cleaning apparatus in accordance with the second preferred embodiment is different from that of the first preferred embodiment in that high voltages of different polarities are kept being alternately applied via the pusher pins 40 to the wafer in lieu of the
electrode plate 20. However, they are same in that an electrostatic field is formed in the space S and an electrostatic stress is applied on the bottom surface of the wafer W, thereby making the adsorptive force adsorbing the particles to the bottom surface of the wafer W weak and allowing the particles to be detached therefrom. - Furthermore, as similarly to the first preferred embodiment, the magnitude of the high voltage applied to the wafer W via the pusher pins 40 is, e.g., 500 V or greater, preferably 2 kV or greater and the application time of the high voltage may be, e.g., 1 sec or less.
- In accordance with the substrate cleaning method, since the high voltages of the different polarities are kept being alternately applied to the wafer W via the
pusher pin 40 while the space S is formed between the susceptor 11 and the wafer W, an electrostatic field is formed in the space S and an electrostatic stress is applied on the bottom surface of the wafer W. Further, since an N2 gas is introduced into thechamber 10 while the space S is formed and the inside of thechamber 10 is depressurized by exhaustion through the rough suction line, a traveling shock wave is generated in thechamber 10 and an impact force is applied to the wafer W due to the generated traveling shock wave. As a result, the particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W are detached therefrom into the space S. Therefore, since the detachment of the particles requires no sputtering by ions of the plasma and no chemical reaction by radicals, the wafer is not damaged. - An N2 gas is injected through the thermally conductive
gas supply openings 27 into the space S and the N2 gas injected into the space S is discharged through the rough suction line to the outside of thechamber 10 while the space S is formed, so that a viscous flow is formed in the space S. The detached particles are captured by the viscous flow to be discharged from the space S to the outside of thechamber 10. - Accordingly, the particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W can be sufficiently removed therefrom without damaging the wafer W.
- Hereinafter, there will be described a substrate cleaning apparatus in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- The substrate cleaning apparatus of the third preferred embodiment is different from those of the first and the second preferred embodiment in that only a cleaning is performed on the bottom surface of the wafer W without performing any plasma processing.
-
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view schematically showing configurations of the substrate cleaning apparatus in accordance with the third preferred embodiment of the present invention. - In
FIG. 4 , thesubstrate cleaning apparatus 42 includes a box-shapedchamber 43 made of a metal, e.g., aluminum or stainless steel, and there is provided in the chamber 43 acolumnar stage 44 on which the wafer W is mounted. - Formed between a sidewall of the
chamber 43 and thestage 44 is anexhaust passageway 65 serving as a flow passage through which a gas above thestage 44 is discharged to the outside of thechamber 43. Theexhaust passageway 65 is connected to a rough suction line. The rough suction line includes anexhaust pipe 45 having a diameter of, e.g., 25 mm which allows theexhaust passageway 65 to communicate with aDP 46 that is an exhausting pump, and a valve V5 disposed in theexhaust pipe 45. The valve V5 can block the communication between theexhaust passageway 65 and theDP 46. A gas in thechamber 43 is discharged through the rough suction line by usingDP 46. - Disposed at an upper portion in the
stage 44 is a disc-shapedelectrode plate 47 made of a conductive film for attracting and holding the wafer W by using an electrostatic adsorptive force. ADC power supply 48 is electrically connected to theelectrode plate 47. - A plurality of
gas supply openings 49 is opened in a portion of the top surface of thestage 44 on which the wafer W is attracted and held. Thegas supply openings 49 communicate via agas supply line 50 provided in thestage 44 with agas feeding pipe 64 having a valve V6, and a gas, e.g., an N2 gas from a first gas supply unit (not shown) connected to thegas feeding pipe 64 is supplied into a gap between the top surface of thestage 44 and the bottom surface of the wafer W. Further, the valve V6 can block the communication between thegas supply openings 49 and the first gas supply unit. - Further, at the portion of the top surface of the
stage 44 on which the wafer W is attracted and held, a plurality ofpins 51 are disposed to protrude from the top surface of thestage 44. Thepins 51 lift the wafer W loaded in thechamber 43 to make it separated from thestage 44. At this time, there is formed a space S between the top surface of thestage 44 and the bottom surface of the wafer W. Thepins 51 may be constructed to move vertically as similar to the pusher pins 30. - At a sidewall of the
chamber 43, there is provided agate valve 53 for opening and closing a loading/unloadingport 52 for the wafer W. Furthermore, connected to a ceiling portion of thechamber 43 is agas inlet line 54 for introducing a gas, e.g., an N2 gas, from a second gas supply unit (not shown). A valve V4 is provided in thegas inlet line 38. The valve V4 can block the communication between the inside of thechamber 43 and the second gas supply unit. - The
substrate cleaning apparatus 42 is installed in, e.g., a parallel type substrate processing system and removes particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W on which a plasma process has been performed by aplasma processing apparatus 56 to be described later included in the substrate processing system. -
FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing configurations of the substrate processing system in which the substrate cleaning apparatus is installed. - In
FIG. 5 , thesubstrate processing system 55 includes aprocess ship 59 comprised of aplasma processing apparatus 56 for performing an etching process on a wafer W and a load-lock chamber 58 wherein a link-shaped single picktype transfer arm 57 for loading and unloading the wafer W to and from theplasma processing apparatus 56 is installed; aloading boat 60 for accommodating a carrier box containing therein one lot of wafers W; an orienter for pre-aligning the wafer W; the above-describedsubstrate cleaning apparatus 42; and aloader module 63, as a rectangular common transferring passageway, in which a scalar dual-armtype transfer arm 62 is installed. Theprocess ship 59, theloading boat 60, theorienter 61 and thesubstrate cleaning apparatus 42 are detachably connected to theloader module 63, wherein thesubstrate cleaning apparatus 42 is installed, opposite via theloader module 63 to theorienter 61, at one end of theloading module 63 in a longitudinal direction thereof. - In the
substrate processing system 55, the wafer W subject to a plasma processing in theplasma processing apparatus 56 is loaded in thesubstrate cleaning apparatus 42 by using thetransfer arm 57 in the load-lock chamber 58 and thetransfer arm 62 in theloader module 63. Thesubstrate cleaning apparatus 42 removes particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W by performing a substrate cleaning process to be described later. - Hereinafter, there will be described the substrate cleaning process performed in the
substrate cleaning apparatus 42. - The substrate cleaning process is performed under the following initial conditions. After having undergone an etching process, the wafer W is still mounted on the top surface of the
stage 44. No voltage is applied to theelectrode plate 47. The valves V4˜V6 are all closed. - First, the wafer W loaded into the
chamber 43 is mounted on thepins 51 protruding from the top surface of thestage 44. At this time, the height of the wafer W lifted by thepins 51 from thestage 44 is preferably to be 10˜20 mm as similar to the first preferred embodiment. In this way, there is formed a space S between the top surface of thestage 44 and the bottom surface of the wafer W. - Subsequently, the
gate valve 53 is closed and, at the same time, the valve V5 of theexhaust pipe 45 and the valve V6 of thegas feeding pipe 64 are opened. An N2 gas is then injected through thegas supply openings 49 into the space S toward the bottom surface of the wafer W lifted and the N2 gas injected into the space S is exhausted through the rough suction line out of thechamber 43. By doing so, there is formed a viscous flow of the N2 gas, which flows from the bottom surface of the wafer W toward the periphery of thestage 44 in the space S. At this time, the N2 gas in thechamber 43 is preferably exhausted through the rough exhaust line such that the pressure in thechamber 43 is not decreased below a predetermined level. The viscous flow captures particles detached from the bottom surface of the wafer W and discharges them out of thechamber 10. - Next, the
DC power supply 48 is kept being alternately applied to theelectrode plate 47 high voltages of different polarities. At this time, as similarly to the first preferred embodiment, an electrostatic field is formed in the space S and an electrostatic stress is applied on the bottom surface of the wafer W. Therefore, the adsorptive force attracting the particles to be adsorbed to the bottom surface of the wafer W becomes weak, so that the particles are detached therefrom. Further, the detached particles are discharged out of thechamber 43 from the space S by the viscous flow described above. - As similarly to the first preferred embodiment, the magnitude of the high voltage applied to the
electrode plate 20 is, e.g., 500 V or greater, preferably 2 kV or greater and the application time of the high voltage may be, e.g., 1 sec or less. - While the high voltages of different polarities are alternately applied to the
electrode plate 20 as described above, the valve V4 of thegas inlet line 54 is opened and an N2 gas is introduced into thechamber 43 from thegas inlet line 54. At this time, as similarly to the first preferred embodiment, since the inside of thechamber 10 is depressurized by exhaustion through the rough suction line, the pressure in a portion immediately under a ceiling portion of thechamber 43 is suddenly increased, so that the introduced N2 gas generates a traveling shock wave and the generated traveling shock wave applies an impact force to the wafer. As a result, the particles attached to the bottom surface thereof are detached therefrom. At this time, the detached particles are also discharged by the viscous flow from the space S to outside of thechamber 43. In thesubstrate cleaning apparatus 42, as similar to the first preferred embodiment, it is preferable that no orifice mechanism is installed at downstream of the valve V4 in thegas inlet line 54. - Further, after the alternate application of the high voltages of different polarities to the
electrode plate 20 has been performed a predetermined number of times under the condition that the valve V4 of thegas inlet line 54 is opened, the valve V4 of thegas inlet line 54, the valve V5 of theexhaust pipe 45 and the valve V6 of thegas feeding pipe 64 are closed and the processing is completed. The wafer W which has been subject to the substrate cleaning process described above is unloaded from thechamber 43 through the loading/unloadingport 52 and loaded into theloader module 63 or theloading boat 60. However, since the particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W are sufficiently removed, the load-lock chamber will not be contaminated by the particles. - In accordance with the substrate cleaning method described above, since high voltages of different polarities are kept being alternately applied to the wafer W while the space S is formed between the
stage 44 and the wafer W, an electrostatic field is formed in the space S and an electrostatic stress is applied on the bottom surface of the wafer W. Further, an N2 gas is introduced into thechamber 43 while the space S is formed and the inside of thechamber 43 is depressurized by exhaustion through the rough suction line, so that a traveling shock wave is generated in thechamber 43 and an impact force is applied to the wafer W due to the traveling shock wave. As a result the particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W are detached therefrom into the space S. Therefore, since the detachment of the particles requires no sputtering by ions of the plasma and no chemical reaction by radicals, the wafer is not damaged. - An N2 gas is injected through the thermally conductive
gas supply openings 27 into the space S and the N2 gas injected into the space S is discharged through the rough suction line to the outside of thechamber 10 while the space S is formed, so that a viscous flow is formed in the space S. The detached particles are captured by the viscous flow to be discharged from the space S to the outside of thechamber 43. - Accordingly, the particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W can be sufficiently removed therefrom without damaging the wafer W.
- In the aforementioned
plasma processing apparatus 42, although thesubstrate cleaning apparatus 42 exclusively includes theDP 46, thesubstrate cleaning apparatus 42 and theplasma processing apparatus 56 may commonly use the DP. In this case, the configurations of the substrate processing system may be simplified. - In the above preferred embodiment, although there have been described a case where the plasma processing apparatus serves as a substrate cleaning apparatus and a case where an exclusive substrate cleaning apparatus is provided, other apparatus included in the substrate cleaning system may serve as the substrate cleaning apparatus in accordance with the present invention.
- For example, in case the load-lock chamber serves as the substrate cleaning apparatus in accordance with the present invention, the load-lock chamber includes a transfer arm, an exhaust unit for exhausting the inside of the load-lock chamber, and a gas introduction unit for introducing a gas into the load-lock chamber. Preferably, the transfer arm has pins protruding from a wafer mounting surface, an electrode for generating an electrostatic field between a wafer W and the wafer mounting surface, and a gas injection unit for injecting a gas toward the bottom surface of the wafer. In the load-lock chamber, while the wafer W is lifted by the pins from the wafer mounting surface to form a space S, a high voltage is applied to the electrode, a gas is injected toward the bottom surface of the wafer W and the load-lock chamber is evacuated by the exhaust unit. Further, a gas is introduced into the load-lock chamber from the gas introduction unit while the inside of the load-lock chamber is depressurized by the exhaust unit.
- Hereinafter, an experimental example of the present invention will be described.
- The following example was performed in the
plasma processing apparatus 1 described above. - First, after preparing a wafer W whose bottom surface had a multiplicity of particles attached thereto, the wafer W was mounted on the pusher pins 30 protruding from the
susceptor 11 in thechamber 10. - Further, after the inside of the
chamber 10 was depressurized by using the main exhaust line, theAPC 14 was closed and the valve V2 of theexhaust pipe 17 and the valve V3 of the thermally conductivegas feeding pipe 29 were opened. Under the above condition, an N2 gas was injected through the thermally conductivegas supply openings 27 toward the bottom surface of the wafer W while slowly exhausting the inside of thechamber 10. By doing so, there was formed a viscous flow in the space S while maintaining the pressure in thechamber 10 at 6.65×103 Pa (50 Torr) or above. - Subsequently, by opening the valve V1, the N2 gas was introduced into the
chamber 10 at a flow rate of 7.0×10 4 sccm. Voltages of +2 kV and −2 kV were alternately applied to theelectrode plate 20 six times while the valve V1 was opened, and the valve V1 was then closed. Furthermore, by opening the valve V1 again, the N2 gas was introduced into thechamber 10 at a flow rate of 7.0×104 sccm. Voltages of +2 kV and −2 kV were alternately applied to theelectrode plate 20 five times while the valve V1 was opened, and the valve V1 was then closed. At that time, after irradiating a laser beam to the space S, scattered lights generated by the particles were observed by photographing them with a CCD camera. Status of the scattered lights photographed is illustrated inFIGS. 6A to 6C. -
FIG. 6A is a diagram schematically showing the status of the space S in a case where the voltages of +2 kV and −2 kV were alternately applied to theelectrode plate 20 repeatedly while the valve V1 was opened. InFIG. 6A , it was observed that a large number of particles were detached from the bottom surface due to the traveling shock wave generated by the introduced N2 gas and the electrostatic stress generated by the alternate application of the voltages and the detached particles formed a group L. -
FIG. 6B is a diagram schematically showing the status of the space S after a few seconds had elapsed from the time corresponding to the status ofFIG. 6A . InFIG. 6B , it was observed that the group L of the particles was being removed from the space S by the viscous flow flowing from the bottom surface of the wafer W toward the periphery of thesusceptor 11 in the space S. -
FIG. 6C is a diagram schematically showing the status of the space S after a few seconds had elapsed from the time corresponding to the status ofFIG. 6B . InFIG. 6C , it was observed that the group L of the particles was completely removed from the space S. - The observation results were illustrated in a graph of
FIG. 7 . - In
FIG. 7 , the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis presents the number of particles, voltage value and pressure value. Further, VE represents a voltage applied to theelectrode plate 20, VW presents a voltage induced in the wafer W by VE, and P indicates a pressure in thechamber 10. In addition, each point plotted in the drawing indicates the number of particles observed at each observation time. Moreover, the portions where the value of P is constant are those where the pressure in thechamber 10 exceeds a measurable range. - As can be seen from
FIG. 7 , a number of particles were detached from the bottom surface of the wafer W by the traveling shock wave generated immediately after a great amount of N2 gas was introduced into the chamber by opening the valve V1, and more particles were detached therefrom by the alternate application of voltages to theelectrode plate 20 being repeated. Therefore, it was appreciated that the introduction of a great amount of N2 gas into thechamber 10 and the repetition of the alternate application of voltages can sufficiently detach the particles attached to the bottom surface of the wafer W. Furthermore, in the second introduction of a great amount of N2 gas into thechamber 10 accompanied with another repetition of the alternate application of voltages, it was observed that the amount of the particles detached from the bottom surface of the wafer W was substantially decreased, so that it was appreciated that the particles could be effectively detached from the bottom surface of the wafer W by performing just once the introduction of a great amount of N2 gas into thechamber 10 and the repetition of the alternate application of voltage. - Moreover, as a result of observing the particles discharged from the
chamber 10 through the rough suction line by using a particle monitoring method employing a laser scattering method, there were obtained same observation results as those inFIG. 7 . Accordingly, it was understood that the viscous flow could effectively discharge the is detached particles from thechamber 10. - While the invention has been shown and described with respect to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
Claims (14)
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